Automatic hooking device



June 29, 1937. A. c.

7 AUTOMATIC HOOKING DEVICE DIXON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 19354/?77/1/2 6'. Dixon INVENTOR BY vzM/ ATTORNEY June 29, 1937. A. c. DIXONAUTOMATIC HOOKING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lRTl/l/R 6.fl/m/v INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 29, I937 UNHTED STATES @FFEQE 3Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

5 This invention relates to an automatic hooking device for use withhoists, cranes, or other lifting devices, and particularly to devicesthat are required to automatically engage or disengage their load fromits placement.

The device to be hereinafter described in detail, relates specificallyto attaching means for use with cranes or the like, whereby emergencygates, stop logs or the like embodied in looks or dams may beautomatically engaged, then moved to a predetermined position, and thenautomatically disengaged from the load; and the various engagements anddisengagements controlled by elevating or lowering the attaching meanswith reference to the load.

This device may be used singly or in multiples in conjunction with aconventional lifting beam or the like.

A general reference may be made to the prior art of load attaching meanswhich have been used for handling heavy equipment in relativelyinaccessible, or submerged locations.

In the prior art referred to the relative vertical positions of the loadattaching means and its load is indefinite in-the load engagementposition; and the load disengaging position is relatively lower than theload engagement position. In some installations it has been necessary toattach mechanism to the load to facilitate disengagement.

The primary object of this invention is to obtain a load attaching meansto be used in connection with hoists, cranes, or the like, whereby it ispossible to engage or disengage the load by the operation of raising orlowering the device with reference to the load, and without manualassistance or additional mechanisms attached to the load.

A further object of this invention is to provide a load attaching meansthat is self-con- -tained and that may be utilized in connection withexisting elevating means to automatically engage or disengage submerged,or otherwise inaccessible loads.

A further object of this invention is to provide a load attaching meanswhich engages or disengages its load at definite and identical relativepositions between the load and the load attaching means-and in a cycleof a fixed sequence of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic loadattaching means so constructed that in case of failure of the automaticmechanism the device will act in a manner analogous to that of a simplehook.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be apparent and will, inpart, be obvious from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment ofmy device:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of my device.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of my device taken on the line 22 of Fig. land in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of my device shown in the unloaded position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic View of my device shown in the load engagingposition.

Fig. 5 is a schematic View of my device shown in the load liftingposition.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of my device shown in the load releasingposition.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of my device shown in the load disengagingposition.

My device is to be used in conjunction with a hoist, crane or othersimilar elevating means not here shown.

In the following specification, similar characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

Referring .to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a pair of similar side members iand 2 which are maintained in fixed, spaced, parallel relationship bysuitable means as shoulder pin 3 and shaft 4 and which comprise theframe A of my device. This frame is provided by means, not here shown,whereby it may be operatively connected to a block, fall line, cranehook or other means, likewise not here shown, capable of impartingvertical motion to it in order to effect engagement with, or releasefrom, a load as hereinafter described. It is to be understood that theblock, fall line, crane hook or other means above referred to need notbe constrained to vertical travel per se, but it is essential that theybe capable of travel in the direction of action of my device, which inthe preferred embodiment requires substantially vertical manipulation.

Vertically disposed notches 23 are disposed in each of the side membersI and 2 and are in mutual alignment. I preferably flare the entrance tothe notches, as at 23a, to facilitate engagement of my device with a pin29, to which the load to be moved is attached.

A pair of similar cheekplates 5 and 6 are unitarily assembled in fixedspaced relationship by suitable pins 8, 9, and H1, and is pivotablysuspended about the shaft 4. Aligned recesses 5a and 6a are provided inthe plates 5 and 6, whereby a suitable lifting pin, as pin 29 fixed tothe load, may be securely retained, the cheekplates functioning as aunit forming in efiect a lifting hook B. It is essential for the properfunctioning of my device that the load pin 29 be' rigidly attached tothe load to be lifted, and

that its longitudinal axis be substantially normal to the vertical planeof rotation of the hook assembiy B. In the present embodiment of mydevice, the center of gravity of the lifting hook B, together with itsattached parts hereinafter described, is solocated that in its normalposition of repose it bears against pin 3 which acts as a stop. The bookmay be swung about the shaft t in a direction away from the pin 3, butis free to return to its initial position upon removal of the forcetending to rotate it. It is to be understood that means other thangravity, such as a spring, might be employed to maintain the hook in thedesired position of repose. The cheekplates are each p ovided withsimilar, arcuate'surfaces l, which, when lowered for load engagementagainst pin 29, cause the hook B to be swung about the shaft 4 asufiicient amount to permit entrance of the pin 2!. into the notches 23,the hook returning to its position'of repose when the pin 29 has enteredthe notches a distance sufficient to clear the trigger mechanism.

The cheekplates are further provided with twopairs of verticallydisposed slots, i3 and Is, in which the extremities of shafts l5 and I6are slidably mounted. Trigger plates ll and I2 are fixed to shafts l5and it, sliding with them as a trigger unit C. The trigger is normallymaintained at the upward limit of its travel in slots l3 and. It bysuitable reactance means as compression spring ll, retained in positionby stub shafts l8 and i9, hich are mounted respectively upon the hookand the trigger. The trigger is provided with a notch 22 similar incontour to the notches 5a and 6m in the cheekplates and. with which itregisters when the trigger assembly is at substantially the lower limitof its travel in slots l3 and It. A convexextension 28 is providedadjacent the notch 22.

A latch 28, disposed between trigger plates H and i2, is pivotallymounted upon the pin s. An integral arm 20w extends radially from thelatch and beyond the shaft 55, with which it is normally held in contactby a suitable reactance means as torsion spring 2|. latching recess 25is provided in the periphery of the latch 29, and an upper cammingsurface 24 extends from the root of the arm 26a to the latching recess25. A releasing recess 25 is provided adjacent the arm Ziia on the sideremote from the upper camming surface 2d. A lower camming surface 21 isprovided along the edge of the latchsubstantially opposite the uppercamming surface 25.

Figure 3 shows my device in the unloaded position and in condition toengage a load. The hook B is in its normal position of repose in theframe A which is supported from operative means not here shown, thetrigger C is positioned at the upward limit of its travel and the latch20 is in its normal released position in which its arm Zila is incontact with the shaft I5. The load pin 29, fixedly attached to the load(not here shown) is in position to be engaged.

Figure 4 shows the relation of my device relative to the load pin 29when it is in the load engaging position. The frame A has been loweredhook has resumed its position of repose, the load pin being restrainedabove the trigger notch 22.

Figure 5 shows my device in the load lifting position, the load pin 29being engaged by the hook B. To reach this position from the phase shownin Figure 4, the frame A and its associated mechanism has been elevatedby means of the hoisting mechanism to which it is operatively attached,causing the load pin 29 to be contacted by the trigger notch 22. Thetrigger C then becomes stationary relative to the load pin 29, theremainder of the lifting mechanism continuing to rise. The shafts l5 andI6 are thus caused to move relative to the slots l3 and I4, and shaft l5and pin 8 are made to approach each other, caus ing impingement of shaft1 5 upon the upper camming surface 2d of the latch 20 and the consequentangular displacement of the latch 29 about its axis, pin 8. The angulardisplacement of the latch continues as the hook B approaches the loadpin 29, until the shaft l5 has been engaged by the latching recess 25which upper camming surface 24. The reactance means, torsion spring 2i,associated with the latch Zil has by this operation become increas-.ingly stressed, as has compression spring H. The engagement by thelatching recess 25 of the shaft 15, coupled by the force exerted byreactance elements I1 and 21, causes trigger C and latch 20 to bemutually latched against spontaneous return to their initial position.Slight further elevation of the frame it brings the mechanism into theposition delineated in Figure 5, wherein recess 5w of cheekplate 5(likewise Ba. of check late 6) has contacted the load pin 29 which isthen caused to move in unison therewith, the cheekplates 5 and 6(combined to form hook B) supporting the load pin 29 as would aconventional hook. When thus engaged the trigger notch 22 is in registrywith recesses 50. and 5b.

terminates the The load having been moved to the desired 10- I cationand lowered to position, my device is released therefrom by continuingto lower the frame A relative to the load pin 29 until the positiondisclosed in Figure 6 is reached, wherein the load pin 29 has beenpassed by the latch 20,

the lower caniming surface 2'1 of which having contacted the load pin 29has. caused the hook B and the latch 2K] to be displaced angularly aboutshaft 6 by an amount sufiicient to permit the upper portion of notches23 to receive the load pin 29. It is to be noted that in the positionshown in Figure 6, the latch 20 and the trigger C remain in the samerelative position which they were caused to assume in Figure 5.

Figure 7 shows my device in the load disengaging positions. Loaddisengagement is accomplished by elevating the mechanism, relative tothe load pin 29, from the position shown in Figure 6. As the mechanismis thus elevated, the releasing recess 26 of the latch 20 engages theload pin 29. Continued elevation of the mechanism causes the latch 20 tobe angularly'displaced about its axis, pin 8, thus releasing the shaft"I5 from the latching recess 25. Release of the shaft l5 permits thetrigger B to'resume its initial'elevated position through the action ofspring [1. Angular displacement of the latch 20 about its axis alsocauses angular displacement of the hook B about the shaft 4, thusplacing the convex extension 28 of the trigger C in such positionrelative to the notch 23 that continued elevation of the mechanismpermits complete disengagement from the load pin 29. When the load pin29 is contacted by the convex extension 28, the hook B is furtherdisplaced angularly about the shaft 4, releasing the latch 20 fromengagement, with the load pin 29, and permitting its return, by torsionspring 2| to the initial position, with arm 20a contacting shaft I5.Complete disengagement of the load pin 29 is followed by return of thehook B to its initial position against the shoulder pin 3, which acts asa stop. My device is now in the initial position disclosed in Figure 3,ready for another cycle of operations. It will be noted throughout theseveral views that the slot 23 acts to position the load attaching meansover the load engaging pin 29 and to maintain that relationshipthroughout the cycle of operation. It will be obvious from the abovediscussion that this slot maintains the load attaching means in anoperable position at all times, which is a distinct advantage whenworking with loads in submerged or restricted areas where it is notpossible to ascertain by inspection the relationship between the liftingdevice and the load. The top of the slot 23 determines the lowestposition which can be assumed by the lifting device, relative to theload, which is the load engaging and/or the load disengaging, position.It is thus obvious that any excessive slacking of the hoisting line canhave no untoward effect on the operations of my device, it containingWithin itself the means for self limitations of its relative downwarddisplacement. I

It will be readily apparent and appreciated by those skilled in the artthat various modifications and changes may be made in the apparatusdisclosed without departing from the spirit or the scope of theinvention. It is desired therefore that only such limitations shall beplaced on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure byLetters Patent is: 1. An elevating device including a gripping andreleasing mechanism adapted to operate upon alternate engagement with aload pin, said elevating device comprising an elevating frame providedwith a slotted opening adapted to engage said load pin, a hook pivotallymounted to said frame adapted to support said load pin and retain thesame within the slotted opening, a trigger unit slidably mounted on saidhook and a latch pivotally mounted on said hook, and coacting with saidtrigger unit, said trigger unit adapted to engage said load pin torotate the latch into the path of said slotted opening on the initialelevation of the frame, and said latch adapted to engage said load pinon the second 3 elevation of the frame to rotate the hook out of thepath of the slotted opening to allow for free passage of the load pin.

2. An elevating device including a gripping and releasing mechanismadapted to operate upon alternate engagement with a load pin, saidelevating device comprising an elevating frame provided with a slottedopening adapted to engage said load pin, a hook pivotally mounted tosaid frame and adapted to support said load pin and retain the samewithin the slotted opening, a trigger unit slidably mounted on said hookadapted to be displaced by said load pin on the initial upward movementof the frame, and a latch pivotally mounted on said hook andcooperatively united with said trigger unit adapted to be moved into thepath of said slotted opening upon displacement of said trigger unit, andfurther adapted to engage said load pin on the second upward movement ofthe frame to rotate the hook out of engaging position to release saidload pin.

3. A device of the class described comprising; a frame having a slottedopening adapted for the passage of a load pin, cheek plates forming ahook and provided with aligned slotted openings, said cheek platespivotally mounted on said frame and adapted to close said passage whenin position of repose, each being formed with an arcuate convex surfaceand an engaging notch; a trigger unit provided with laterally projectingshafts slidably mounted within the slots of said check plates and meansadapted to retain said trigger unit in elevated position between saidplates, said trigger unit being formed with an engaging notch and aconvex displacing surface, said displacing surface being aligned withthe convex surfaces of said cheek plates to form a cam adapted todisplace the hook out of the path of said frame upon entrance of saidload pin on the initial downward movement of the frame, and saidengaging notch of the trigger unit and cheek plates adapted to preventthe release of said load pin upon return of the cheek plates to theirposition of repose upon initial upward movement of the frame; a latchpivotally mounted on said hook and formed with upper and lower cammingsurfaces, the upper camming surface adapted to react against thelaterally projecting shaft of the trigger unit to rotate the latch intothe path of the slotted opening in said frame upon initial upwardmovement thereof and relative downward 'movement of the load pin; thelatching recess adapted to retain the latch in said position, thereleasing recess adapted to engage the load pin on the second upwardmovement of said frame to rotate the cheek plates out of the path of theslotted opening in said frame, and the lower camming surface adapted toengage the load pin on the next initial downward movement of said frameto return the latch to its initial position.

ARTHUR C. DIXON.

